By Bae Ji-sook
Prof. Cho Kuk of Seoul National University, a non-standing commissioner at the National Human Rights Commission resigned from his post Wednesday, adding to the mounting pressure on its beleaguered chief Hyun Byung-chul to step down.
His resignation came days after two out of the three standing commissioners offered to resign, and fellow staff officers publicly asked Hyun to step down due to internal strife.
Cho denounced Hyun in his letter of resignation for operating the independent commission based on his own political beliefs. Cho said his action was aimed at lending more weight to the severity of the issue.
“There are unprecedented levels of voices calling for Hyun’s resignation in and outside the commission, but he doesn’t seem to understand and keeps repeating that everything is fine,” he said. “Hyun has abandoned the purpose of the commission, which is to act as a check and balance on the administration’s human rights policies. I blame Hyun’s lack of communication, leadership and sense of human rights for the malfunctioning of the body,” he said.
He noted that the commission, which was once praised around the world, has now become an international joke. “All we have left is a poor, sad man desperate to please the administration,” he said. Cho urged President Lee Myung-bak, who appointed Hyun, to fire him to set the record straight.
Cho was recommended by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and his term ends on Dec. 23. His sudden resignation is expected to pose a major blow among his peers, who are in the midst of choosing whether to stay in the organization or not. Chang Hyang-sook, the remaining standing commissioner, as well as some other commissioners are also reportedly considering quitting.
However, it seems unlikely that Hyun will step down. At the National Assembly on Monday, he was attacked by opposition lawmakers but refused to quit. “I am ashamed of nothing. I have handled numerous cases and received many encouraging emails,” he said.
Hyun has been blamed for omitting thorny but significant issues for the protection of human rights such as the prosecution’s investigation methods and the ban on nighttime rallies. These issues have been supported by many of the agency staff, but Hyun has allegedly prevented discussions on them.
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